A smart home system is a system that uses internet communication to monitor the energy usage of a home. The use of these devices has been growing quickly in recent years. This is because of scientific evidence showing that they can increase the energy efficiency of a home. These devices can save you money on energy bills and help the environment by limiting your energy usage.

So what are some examples of these systems, and how do they work?

Smart thermostats are one of the most popular and beneficial devices. They are similar to regular thermostats that control the temperature of your home, but they have a crucial added capability. They can be programmed to heat your home less while your away, and only bring the home back to your desired temperature when you are home. This means less energy is spent heating your home.

An example of a smart thermostat. [1]

Another common smart system is lighting control that is motion sensitive. These systems detect when no one is in a room, and then dim or turn off any lights that may be on. They are turned on again when someone enters the room. They prevent you from leaving the lights on unnecessarily, which wastes energy and runs up your electrical bill. Additionally, smart lighting systems can control the shades of your home, which is especially useful in the summer. While you’re away, the shades will close to prevent the sun from heating up the room, which saves your cooling system from using more energy.

Smart water heaters are another emerging technology. These analyze your home’s routine use of hot water. They then determine the operating schedule that will allow them to provide sufficient hot water at all times while minimizing the amount of energy they waste on heating water unnecessarily.

How can this website help me learn more about smart home systems?

This website is dedicated to helping you understand smart home technologies, their benefits, and how you can use them in your own home!

If you look in the Usage section you will find pros and cons for using smart home systems, statistics on energy savings and smart home system usage, and user feedback.

If you look in our Research section, you’ll find academic support for using smart devices.

If you look in our Products and Companies section, you’ll find more information about the specific systems described earlier in this page, how they can be set up and used in your home, and links directing you to where you can find smart home products along.

Sources:

[1]

Nest Labs. (n.d.). Home | Nest. Retrieved October 31, 2015, from https://nest.com/